Lynn McConnell at Eden Park
Welcoming in new age rugby with a hiss and a roar, the Blues backs put their skills to use in a dazzling display to swamp the Chiefs 32-14 in their opening Rebel Sport Super 14 match at Eden Park.
Giving themselves the perfect boost before their South African tour, the Blues turned around an 8-11 halftime deficit to produce a bonus point performance which hinted at latent excitement in the forthcoming rounds of the competition
It took time for both sides to settle, as always in their local derby but, favoured by extra space for the backs, some superb running rugby was unleashed.
Conditions were ideal and a crowd of 23,450 assessing the experimental law variations would have had their curiosities sated with the effects of the changes.
Long range running action from both sides produced some scintillating action, never more evident than in the 50th minute try scored by Blues captain Troy Flavell. It was long enough into the game for the effects of the greater demands of fitness tested by the new laws, and it showed.
Chiefs fullback Mils Muliaina made a scything break from his own line. However, after the breakdown, first five-eighths Stephen Donald chose to break back towards the forwards when his backs were lined out.
The Blues ripped the ball away and Flavell fed on the blindside to wing Joe Rokocoko who showed all his speed down the sideline. He was tackled but his in-pass was deflected back by the Chiefs and in the scramble for the ball it was Flavell who touched down.
Both teams were guilty of not rolling away quickly enough in the breakdowns and the free-kicks flowed accordingly.
The need for solid set piece play was emphasised throughout, especially with the advantage of extra space between the backlines. And the need for clarity was seen when the Blues gained the match-winning advantage after 60 minutes.
A set piece move, from a solid Blues scrum just outside the Chiefs 22m area saw second five-eighths Benson Stanley send a reverse pass to Rokocoko and he fizzed through the Chiefs defences to score beneath the posts and a 22-14 lead.
Flavell revelled in the wide open spaces and had an outstanding game, not only running in the open phases but ripping and competing in the mauls.
Fullback Isa Nacewa was positioned at second five-eighths after 60 minutes and side-stepped his way through the defence to feed replacement centre Ben Atiga across for the try.
Blues halfback Danny Lee marked his 50th Super rugby match by scoring the first try of the game.
Donald landed two 50m penalty goals in the sixth and 14th minutes to give the Chiefs the lead and then after 25 minutes Evans landed a penalty goal, after two previous goal attempts failed to give the Blues an 8-6 lead.
Four minutes from the break, Donald hit the posts with a penalty attempt from a much closer distance and typically, on this night, Evans' superb break up the middle of the field broke down when supporting No.8 Nick William's pass went to ground.
Then the Chiefs stormed back after Donald opened up the defences. He passed to replacement halfback Brendon Leonard but at the breakdown the Blues conceded a free kick and the ball was moved to the corner for fullback Mils Muliaina to score.
Blues 32
Tries: Lee, Flavell, Rokocoko, Atiga
Con: Evans 3
Pen: Evans 2
Chiefs 14
Tries: Muliaina
Pen: Donald 3